Soft Hershey Kiss Cookies Recipe (Classic Holiday Chocolate Kiss Cookies)

About This Recipe

Hershey Kiss cookies are the kind of bite-sized treat that disappears as fast as you can set the plate down. Think:

• Soft, tender sugar cookies
• Rolled in sparkling sugar
• Baked just until set, then crowned with a melty Hershey’s Kiss in the center

This Hershey Kiss cookies recipe:

• Uses simple pantry ingredients
• Mixes up quickly in one bowl
• Holds its shape (no spreading into flat discs)
• Works with any Hershey’s Kiss flavor (milk chocolate, dark, caramel, candy cane, etc.)

Perfect for Christmas cookie trays, Valentine’s Day, bake sales, or an everyday chocolate fix.

Ingredients: What You’ll Need

For the Hershey Kiss Cookies

• 2 cups (260 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp fine sea salt
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 Tbsp milk (whole or 2%)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar, for rolling

For the Chocolate Centers

• About 36 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped
  • Milk chocolate, dark, almond, hugs, or seasonal flavors

Instructions: Step-by-Step Preparation

1. Prep Your Oven & Pan
   • Preheat oven to 190°C.
   • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
   • Unwrap Hershey’s Kisses and set aside (you’ll need them ready to go).
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
   • In a medium bowl, whisk together:
     • Flour
     • Baking soda
     • Baking powder
     • Salt
   • Set aside.
3. Cream Butter & Sugar
   • In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
   • Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Add Egg, Milk & Vanilla
   • Beat in the egg until fully combined.
   • Mix in milk and vanilla extract until smooth.
5. Combine Wet & Dry
   • Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture.
   • Mix on low just until a soft dough forms; do not overmix.
   • The dough should be soft but not sticky—if extremely sticky, chill briefly.
6. Shape & Roll in Sugar
   • Place ⅓ cup sugar in a small bowl.
   • Scoop about 1 Tbsp dough per cookie and roll into balls.
   • Roll each ball in sugar to coat completely.
   • Arrange on prepared baking sheets, spaced about 5 cm apart.
7. Bake the Cookies
   • Bake at 190°C for 8–10 minutes, until:
     • Cookies are puffed
     • Edges are just barely golden
     • Centers still look soft (don’t overbake)
8. Press in the Hershey Kisses
   • Remove cookies from the oven. Immediately press one Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie.
   • The cookie will crack slightly around the edges—that’s exactly what you want.
   • Let cookies sit on the baking sheet for 5–10 minutes to allow the chocolate to soften and then begin to set.
9. Cool Completely
   • Transfer cookies carefully to a wire rack to cool completely.
   • The Kisses will firm up again as they cool.

How to Store It

• Room Temperature:
  • Keep in an airtight container for 4–5 days.
  • Place parchment between layers to protect the chocolate tips.
• To Keep Soft:
  • Add a small piece of bread to the container; it helps maintain moisture.

Smart Ingredient Swaps

• Flavor Twists:
  • Use brown sugar for half the granulated sugar for a slightly chewier cookie.
  • Add ½ tsp almond extract for a bakery-style aroma.
• Chocolate Variations:
  • Use Hershey’s Hugs, dark chocolate, or caramel-filled Kisses.
  • Try a candy cane kiss for a peppermint holiday version.
• Gluten-Free:
  • Swap flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
• Dairy-Free:
  • Use vegan butter sticks and dairy-free chocolate “kisses” or chocolate chunks.

How to Serve It

• On Christmas cookie trays alongside:
  • Snowball cookies
  • Snickerdoodles
  • Chocolate crinkle cookies
• As a fun dessert:
  • On a dessert board with fruit, nuts, and other bite-sized sweets
  • Packed into treat bags for party favors or teacher gifts
• With:
  • Cold milk
  • Coffee or hot chocolate

Cultural Background & Personal Touches

Hershey Kiss cookies are a cousin to peanut butter blossoms, but with a soft vanilla-sugar cookie base instead of peanut butter. They’re often seen on:

• Holiday cookie plates
• Bake sale tables
• School party spreads

Personal touches I like to add:

• Extra vanilla for a warm, bakery-cookie flavor
• Slightly underbaking so the centers stay soft and tender
• Pressing a few festive sprinkles on top of the dough balls for holiday flair

Seasonal Variations

• Christmas Hershey Kiss Cookies:
  • Use Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses and roll cookies in red and green sanding sugar.
• Valentine’s Day:
  • Use cherry cordial or lava cake. Kisses and roll in pink sugar.
• Easter/Spring:
  • Use pastel-colored Kisses and add pastel sprinkles.
• Halloween:
  • Use dark chocolate, Kisses, and orange/black sanding sugar.

Tried & Tested Feedback

Bakers who make Hershey Kiss cookies like these often say:

• Kids love helping with the sugar rolling and Kiss-pressing step.
• They’re one of the first cookies to disappear from holiday platters.
• The recipe is very forgiving and works well with many Kiss flavors.

Freezer-Friendly Version

• Freeze Baked Cookies:
  • Cool completely.
  • Layer in an airtight container with parchment between layers.
  • Freeze up to 2 months.
  • Thaw at room temperature.
• Freeze Dough Balls:
  • Roll dough into balls (don’t roll in sugar yet).
  • Freeze on a tray until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag.
  • Bake from frozen at 190°C, adding 1–2 minutes, then roll in sugar and press Kisses as directed (or roll in sugar before freezing and top with Kisses after baking).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Hershey Kiss cookies go flat?

• Likely warm butter or not enough flour. Use softened (not melted) butter and measure flour by spooning and leveling, not scooping.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

• Yes. Chill dough up to 24 hours. Let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes so it’s scoopable, then roll and bake.

Why did my chocolate kisses melt too much?

• Some Kisses get very soft but usually re-firm as they cool. Don’t move cookies until Kisses have set.

Can I double the recipe?

• Absolutely. Use two pans and rotate halfway through baking if your oven bakes unevenly.

Final Thoughts

This Hershey Kiss cookies recipe delivers soft, pretty, crowd-pleasing cookies that feel special but are incredibly easy to make. With a simple vanilla cookie base and endless Kiss flavor options, they’ll quickly become a go-to recipe for holidays, parties, and everyday baking.